2012-11-11

Signs of fall in the California native garden

Whats all this hear about California not having seasons? Ususally I just change the subject when an unenlightened person tells me that there's no seasons in California. This time I thought I'd get some evidence, so Juli and I took a stroll in the Madrona Marsh demonstration garden to find out more.

What appeared to be a horticultural sunflower, not a native plant, but read on....

Probably Encelia. I've read that California sunflowers were the progentitors of the sunflowers that Monet painted and who's seed we consume at ball games. Sunflowers = sun = summer.

Christmasberry / Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) showing signs of Christmas. You mean we went from our perpetual summer right to Christmas. Christmasberry = Christmas = winter! Bah Humbug. This isn't a sign of fall.

Look. All the Ribes (currant) is turning color and losing leaves. Must be an illness. There's a cool looking growth or egg cluster of some sort on this branch. With no seasons in California how could this happen otherwise?

That rich brown color on the buckwheat doesn't fool anyone that it's fall.

Nor does Vitis 'Roger's Red' and Christmasberry.

Even if it hit you in the eye. More Vitis 'Roger's Red' and Christmasberry.

I thought this was a Home Depot kind of plant, but then I reconsidered. I still don't know what it is. Seed heads don't remind anyone of fall, do they?

Fresh looking foliage on the two previous plants from our recent rain. Water from the sky? That must be a sign of spring!